Safety switch cabinet



May 2 1933- M. MOREINES SAFETY SWITCH CABINET 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1951 A v INVEEINTOR 32 Norms Moremes BY HIS ATTORNEY May 23, 1933. R s 1,910,036

SAFETY SWITCH CABINET Filed June 16, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEI NTOR Norms Moremes May 23, 1933. M MOREINES 1,919,936

SAFETY SWITCH CABINET Filed June 16. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Morris MOIQIHQS BY HIS ATTORNEY May 23, 1933. M. MQREENES SAFETY SWITCH CABINET Filed June 16, 1931 4 Sheets- I a INVEEQTOR MOII'IS Moremes.

BY HIS ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1933 MORRIS MOR-EINES, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY SAFETY SWITCH CABINET Application filed June 16,

. This invention relates to enclosed safety switch cabinets, and more particularly to a cabinet of this nature having a cover and means associated therewith for holding such cover positively locked so long as the switch remains closed.

The invention is closely related to that disclosed in my prior co-pending application 5. N. 525,072, filed March 15, 1931. The general objects of the present invention are therefore similar to those set forth in said prior application.

A further and special object of the present invention, however, is to provide several forms of improved locking means for the door of a switch cabinet of the type referred to, whereby the door is maintained locked so long as the switch is closed, and the switcho-perating mechanism is automatically held in inoperative or oil position so long as the door is open.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of a sliding locking member mounted inside the cabinet, means whereby this locking member, and the switch mechanism to which it is connected, are held against movement when the door is open, and means whereby said member is shifted by the closing movement of the switch, after the door has been shut, into a position in which it positively locks the door.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the various constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a complete cabinet showing the door in open position and partially broken away, and having the first form of locking mechanism installed therein;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1 with the door in closed position;

Fig. 8' is an enlarged f'agmentary view of the inner right wall of the cabinet showthe door locking means, the door being shown partially open and the switch handle locked in oil position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line Serial No. 544,723.

4l of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the door closed and locked;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of locl'ing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof, looking from the inside of the cabinet, parts being in section;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Fig. 7 but showing the door partially open and the switch operating mechanism locked against movement;

Fig. 10 is a. plan view of a further modified construction of door locking mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation thereof, looking from the inside of thecabinet, parts being in section, and the door being shown as locked;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of 75 the arrows;

Fig. 13 a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Fig. 11, but showing the door partially open and the switch operating mechanism locked in off position;

Fig. 14 is a plan view similar to Fig. 6, but showing a still further modified arrangement of locking mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a side el vation thereof, looking from the inside of the cabinet, the cover being shown in section and in locked position;

Fig. 16 is a transverse section on the line 1616 of Fig. 15, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 17 is a. fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Fig. 15, but showing the door in partially opened position and the switch operating mechanism locked against movement;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary plan view of a further modified form of the invention, having a diiierent type of actuating mechanism for the locking means shown in Figs. 10 to 13;

Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the same, looking from the inside of the cabinet, the cover being shown in section and in locked position;

Fig. 20 is a transverse section on the line 2020 of Fig. 19, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 21 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 19, but showing a still further modified form of locking mechanism actuating means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly first to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, designates the cabinet which may conveniently be formed of sheet metal.

As in my said prior application, I have shown this cabinet as provided with two separate doors 11 and 15, the first covering the switch and the second the usual fuses, the door 11 being mounted on the cabinet by means of hinges 12 and the door 15 being mounted on hinges 16.

Although I have thus illustrated a cabinet having two separate doors, it will be understood that the present invention isequally applicable to cabinets having but a single door.

The switch is indicated at 14 and is shown as of the usual double pole knife blade type, the blades being pivoted at to clips 19, and being adapted to engage other clips 20 when in closed position.

Pairs of fuse clips 17 and 27 are provided to receive the usual fuses 26, the clips 27 being connected by bars 28 with the switch clips 19, all of the'fuse and switch clips being preferably mounted upon a panel 18 of insulating material, such as slate or the like.

The switch blades 14 are bridged by a bar 21 of insulating material and secured to this bar is a bracket 21 having an opening 21 through which extends a U-shaped switch operating rod 22 journalled in the side walls of the cabinet as at 23 and extending outside of the cabinet, as indicated at 24, the extended end being bent upwardly to form a handle, as shown at 25. A spring 21 preferably conmeets the rod 22 with the bracket 21 so as to produce a snap action when the switch is operated, and thus prevent objectionable arcing.

As in my prior co-pending application, the cabinet is illustrated as provided with two doors 11 and 15 which are constructed to interlock in such a way that the switch door 11 can not be opened while the fuse door 15 is locked closed. This is effected by securing a strip 29 to the inner edge of the door 11, as by welding, which strip overlies the adjacent edge 30 of the door 15. My improved locking mechanism described in this application is shown as applied to the fuse door 15, and since, as above mentioned, this door is interlocked with the switch door, the result of the arrangement is that both doors are locked whenever the fuse door is locked, and to this extent the two doors are the equivalent of a single door. So far as concerns the improved locking mechanism forming the subject of the present invention, therefore, it is immaterial whether an interlocked pair of doors or a single door is employed.

Secured to the inside of the door 15 is a Z-shaped locking bracket 31, and end 32 of which, when the door is closed, is adapted to enter the transverse portion 33 of an L- shaped slot 34 formed in a sliding locking member 35 mounted upon the inner wall of the cabinet. As shown, this sliding member 35 may be of channel section and is provided with longitudinal slots 35 which engage with projections 35 carried by a guide plate 35 secured to the wall of the cabinet and spaced therefrom sufliciently to receive one flange of the channel shaped sliding member 35.

A resilient latch 36, preferably in the form of a leaf spring, is secured at one end to a bracket 46 supported upon the guide plate 35 in such a manner that it is free and projects upwardly into the slot 33-34, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and thus prevents the sliding member 35 from being shifted, so long as the door 15 is open. When, however, the door 15 is closed, the end 32 of the bracket 31 engages and depresses the upwardly projecting end of the latch 36 into the position shown in Fig. 5, so that this latch no longer engages the slot in the sliding member 35 and such member is free to be shifted. When the sliding member is then shifted longitudis nally toward the center of the cabinet, the end 32 of the bracket 31 engages under that portion of the sliding member 35 adjacent the slot 34 and the door 15 is thereby locked in closed position.

The sliding locking member 35 is shifted by the switch operating rod 22 which engages between the legs of a forked bracket secured to the sliding member 35, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus, when the rod 22 is swung upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, the sliding member 35 is shifted in the same direction and the door 15, having been previously shut, is locked in closed position.

In addition to the automatic locking means controlled by the switch operating mechanism, as above described, I preferably provide other locking means comprising resilient lockin plates 39 and 40 which project upwardly cm the side wall of the cabinet and are received in slots 37 and 38 formed in the doors. The locking plates 39 and 40 carry laterally projecting nibs 43 and 44, which, when the doors are closed, engage the outer surfaces of the doors. These resilient locking plates can be manually released by pressing them outwardly. If desired, they may be provided with openings 41 and '42 through which padlocks may be passed for late preventing access to the cabinet when desired.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, I have illustrated a slightly different form of sliding locking member 47 which is angular in cross section. This is slidably supported on a shaped bracket 49 by means of rivets 48 or the like which work freely in slots t? formed in the downwardly extending flange of the sliding member. The supporting bracket 29 has its other flange 49" secured to the wall of he cabinet as by spot welding.

T supporting bracket s9 is formed with a slot- 50, and the sliding member l? is provided with a notch 51 which are adapted to be brought into registry when it is desired to unlock the door. Secured to the door or cover 15 is an angle bracket 52 havin a notch 53 formed in the side of its depending portion, and when the notch 51 is in rcgi try with the slot 50, the end. of this angle bracket may enter the slot and notch freely. hen, however, after the bracket 52 has ordered the slot 50, the sliding locking member shitted to a position such as that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, its edge then engaging in the notch 53 and thus locking the door in closed po sition.

' lVhen, however, the notch 51 registers with the slot 50 and the bracket is withdrawn therefrom by opening the door, a spring pressed latch 54 enters the notch 51 from below and thus locks the sliding member against movement. This latch at is shown as secured to the end of a leaf sprin 55 supported on the bracket 49.

' In the present construction, the switch operating rod 22 is operatively connected with the sliding member 47 by means of a link 56 connecting such member with a lever 57 secured to an angle bracket 58 having a notch 59 ti rein to receive the rod 22, as clearly saown in Figs. 6 and 7, and lever 57 an( bracket 58 being mounted upon the rod 22 itself adjacent the wall of the cabinet.

In Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, I have illustrated a further somewhat modified construction of locking mechanism which may be employed. In this modification, I have illustrated the switch operating mechanism as comprisin a handle 60 terminating in a trunnion 61 which is journalled in the wall of the cabinet and in which one end of the switch operating rod 652 is secured by means of a set screw 61*. The r l 62 engages between the legs of forkeo bracket 63 secured to the sliding l'neinber 64 whic is of angle section. It is slidabl poor on the cabinet wall by means of 66 engaging in slots formed in the vertical flange. The horizontal flange iscut a *ay at one point to form a square iuld notch ,6? and also set into and projecting down below this horizontal flai gs adjacent the notch is a lug 68. This is adapted to e i gage at times with the head 69 of a locking pin 69 mounted for vertical reciprocation. in a fixed bracket 70 secured to the cabinet wall. The pin 69 has a collar or shoulder 69", and between this and the lower arm of the bracket 70 is interposed ahelical spring 6:? which surrounds the pin and normally it upwardly, such upward movement being limit d. by cotter pin 69 extending through the lower end of the pin 69.

Depending from the inside of the door or ver 15 is an angle bracket 71 having a notch formed in the side of the vertical portion such notch being adapted t receive chorizontal flange of the sliding locking nber 6%. When such flange is enga ed in the notch T2, s own in Figs. 10 and 11, the door 15 is locked and the end of the bracket- 71 depresses the pin 69 as shown in Vhen, however, the notch 6'? is brought into a position opposite the bracket 1 this bracket may be moved upwardly and the door opened. When, however, the sliding member Get is shifted to such a position as to bring the notch 67 opposite the bracket 71, the lug (58 is carried to the right hand side of the pin 69", as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, so that when the bracket 71 is with l tpring 69' and interposes its head in the h of movement of the lug 68, as shown in l' 13, thus locking the sliding member movement toward the left. Pref ly, the right hand side of the lug 68 is ec, as shown, so that it will snap over a 69 of the p n it it moved toward when the pin is in its upper position. 14!: to 1 inclusive, I have illusstill further modified. arrangement the sliding member is indicated at 73 and is le section, slidaoly supported by means 75 working over rivets 76 set into the the cabinet. in the previously ,ion. the vertical flange of member is provided both with a "d with a depending lug, the former g cdicated at and the latter at 77. An angle shaped l 78 is disposed just below the sliding member and is mounted for vertical reciprocation in a fixed bracket 80 secured to the wall of the cabinet and having a pair of spaced arms, between the lowermost of vhich and a shoulder 78 on the latch is confined a helical spring 79 which urges the latch upwardly, such upward movement being limited by cotter pin 79 in the lower end the latch. The horizontal portion of the latch 78 disposed immediately beneath the end of an angle bracket 81 carried by the cover or door and provided in its edge h a notch 8; ads to receive the edge e lldlll, The operation of the latch, no ch and lug shown in these figures is substantiwny the same as that illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13, inc'usive.

A slightly dillerentswitch operating connection is, however, illustrated. A bracket trunnion 100 of the handle 101.

83 is secured to the sliding member 73 and depends therefrom. It is provided with a vertical slot 84 in which works a pin 85 carried b a lever 86 having a circular opening 87 an a pair of spaced pins 88 adjacent such opening. The lever 86 is adapted to fit over a trunnion 89 journaled in the wall of the cabinet 10 and integral with a handle 90 operated from the outside of the cabinet. One end 91a of a switch operating rod 91 is passed transversely through the trunnion 89 and extends slightly beyond said trunnion, being secured therein by means of a set screw 89a. The extended end 91a of the operating rod 91 engages between the pins 88 and thus causes the lever 86 to be rocked back and forth, as clearly shown in Fig. 15.

In Figs. 18 to 20, inclusive, I have illustrated a still further modified arrangement of locking mechanism. In this construction, a sliding member 92 is provided with a pair of slots 93 fitting around a pair of spaced brackets 94, welded or otherwise secured to the wall of the cabinet 10. The sliding member 92 is provided at its right-hand end, as

viewed in Figs. 18 and 19 with a horizontal flange 95 having a notch 96 cut therein and adjacent said notch is a depending lug 97 having a beveled shank, said construction being identical with that of the third form of the invention shown in Fig. 13. The sliding member 92 is provided on its left-hand end with an offset depending flange 97 having secured thereto a vertical toothed rack 98 which is adapted to engage an oscillating vertical segment gear 99 located beneath it. The segment gear 99 is adapted to fit over a horizontal trunnion 100 journaled in the wall of the cabinet 10 and integral with a handle 101 operated from the outside of said cabinet.

A horizontal bifurcated lug 102 is formed at the lower end of the segment gear 99 and engages the lower vertical end 103 of a switch operating rod 104, said vertical end 103 being secured within the trunnion 100 by means of a set screw 105. Thus, it will be clear that by operating the handle 101, the segment gear will be caused to oscillate, which in turn will reciprocate the sliding member 92 and perform the same functions as stated in the previous described forms.

Fig. 21 shows a still further modified form of actuating means for the slidable locking member illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13 and 18 i to 20. In this form, the offset depending flan e 97 of the sliding member 92 has a depen ing cog 105 adapted to mesh between a pair of upstanding cogs 106 formed on an oscillating member 107 journaled upon the The lower end of said oscillating member 107 has formed thereon a bifurcated flange 108 which functions similarly to the flange 103 on the segment gear 99, shown in Figs. 18 to 20.

It will thus be seen that all of the various modifications which I have illustrated and described 0 erate upon the same general principle. n all of them, there is a sliding locking member, and in all of them there is a latch which, when the door is open, engages the sliding member and holds it against movement, thus preventing the switch from being closed. Also, in al of the modifications, the sliding member, when the switch is closed engages a bracket on the door or cover and thus maintains the same locked.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switchoperating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent its free edge, an angle bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an aper ture adapted to aline with said hook member when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to fit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switch-operating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking device carried by said cabinet for locking said switch open as long as said cover remains o n.

2. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a. switch. operating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent its free edge, an angle bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar havi an aperture adapted to aline with said ho dfi member when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to fit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switchoperating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking device carried by said cabinet, said spring-locking device extending into said aperture to lock said switch open when the cover is open.

3. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a hinged knife blade switch located therein, a switch-operating member having a handle portion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent its free edge, an angle bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an aperture adapted to aline with said hook member when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to fit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture isv out of alinement with said hook, said switch-operating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into coverlocking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locki lg device carried by said cabinet for locking said switch open as long as said 4. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switchoperating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending Z-shaped hook member adjacent its free edge, a channel-shaped bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an L-shaped aperture adapter to aline with said hock member when the switch'is fully open, said bar serving to fit into said hook member to tech said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switch-operating memher having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking device carried by said cabinet for locking said switch onen as long as said cover remains open.

5. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switclnopcrating member having a potion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover tor closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent its free edge, a channel bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an aperture adapted to aline with said hook member when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to lit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switchoperating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking arm carried by said cabinet for locking said switch open as long as said cover remains open.

6. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switch-operating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent its free edge, achannel bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an aperture adapted to aline with said hook member when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to fit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switchoperating member having an operative con nection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking plunger carried by said cabinet for locking said switch open as long as said cover remains open.

7. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, witch-operating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent its free edge, an angle bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an aperture adapted to aline with said hook memher when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to fit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switchoperating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking arm carried by said cabinet for locking said switch open as long as said cover remains open, said spring-locking arm being horizontal and having an upturned extremity in alinement with said hook member.

8. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switch-operating member having a portion extending outside or" cabinet, a hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent tree cage, an angle bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an a erture adapted to aiine with said hook nfember when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to lit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switch-operating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking device carried by said cabinet for locking said switch open as long as said cover remains open, said cabinet having a pair of auxiliary vertical locking strips having nibs, and said cover having a pair of slots in alinement with said strips.

9. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switcl1-opcrating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a iinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent its free edge, an angle bar slidably mou ted on tae side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an aperby said cabinet for looking said switch open as long as sald cover remains open, said bar ture adapted to aline with said hook member having a pin-and-slot connection with said cabinet to limit its sliding movement in each direction.

10. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switchoperating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover for closin said cabinet, said cover having a depen ing hook member adjacent its in free edge, an angle bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an aperture adapted to aline with said hook member when the switch is full open, said bar serving to fit into said hoo member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switch operating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking plunger carried by said cabinet for locking said switch open as long as said cover remains open, said bar having a ing on its under side to engage with said plunger and lock said bar against sliding movement when the cover is open.

11. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switch-operating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a dependin hook member adjacent its free edge, an ang e bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said slidin bar havin an aperture adapted to aline with said ho member when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to fit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switch-operating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spri -locking device carried by said cabinet for ocking said switch open as long as said cover remains open, said bar having a depending yoke member for operative engagement with said switch operating member.

12. In an enclosed safety switch, a cabinet having a switch located therein, a switch-operating member having a portion extending outside of said cabinet, a. hinged cover for closing said cabinet, said cover having a depending hook member adjacent its free edge, an ang e bar slidably mounted on the side of said cabinet, said sliding bar having an aperture adapted to aline with said hook member when the switch is fully open, said bar serving to fit into said hook member to lock said cover closed when said aperture is out of alinement with said hook, said switch-operating member having an operative connection with said sliding bar to move said bar into cover-locking position when the switch is closed, and a spring-locking device carried by said cabinet for locking said switch 0 n as long as said cover remains open, said b ar having a depending slotted bracket for operative engagement with the crank arm of a rotary switch operating member.

13. In an enclosed safet switch, a cabinet having a switch located t erein, an oscillatable switch-operating member having a handle portion extending outside said cabinet, a cover for closing said cabinet, a sliding an le bar carried by said cabinet and having etachable interlocking engagement with said cover, said sliding bar having a toothed rack, and a gear connected to said switch-operating member for meshing with said rack to actuate said sliding bar.

14. In an enclosed safet switch, a cabinet having a switch located erein, an oscillatable switch-operating member havin a handle portion extending outside said ca inet, a cover for closing said cabinet, a slidin angle bar carried by said cabinet and having detachable interlocking engagement with said cover, said sliding bar having a depending cog, and a bifurcated member embracing said cog, said bifurcated member being connected to said switch-operating member whereby oscillation thereof will slide said bar.

In testimony whereof, I have afixed my signature to this specification.

MORRIS MOREINES. 

